Andres, the deputy of the Ruuset Temple, possessed a unique power to discern abilities.
With this power, he was able to instantly recognize that Tiel's ability was "Light Ability" when she first arrived at the temple.
Andres's eyes never made mistakes. Tiel's ability was definitely Light Ability.
And then...
"Rowen's ability was definitely Cryokinesis, but..."
Andres muttered, recalling the ability Rowen had just shown moments ago.
Rowen's ability had striking similarities to Tiel's. For example, the ice shards that had transformed into the shape of fish.
"Definitely Cryokinesis, but as Rowen said, there's also a mix of Light Ability. What... is going on here?"
There had never been a case where one person possessed two abilities. Everyone, without exception, could only have one ability.
However, for a brief moment, Andres had seen Light Ability mixed into Rowen's Cryokinesis.
The exact same Light Ability as Tiel's.
"What on earth...?"
His mind was in chaos. Andres remained seated, staring blankly at the spot where Rowen had left.
At the spot where Rowen had left, a dark, snake-like thing slithered, but since it was late at night, and Rowen had extinguished all the candles, Andres couldn't see it.
***
"Rowen came to Arcadia?"
Tiel asked, her eyes wide with surprise. Ria, carefully braiding Tiel's hair, nodded in agreement.
"Yes, that's what I heard. I'm sure either Alpheus or Karsus will come and give more details soon."
Ria, who had followed Tiel all the way to Arcadia, thought she had made the right decision to come.
Though Ria could have stayed with the Asterians, she wanted to care for the little lady she had raised, who wasn't so little anymore, but that didn't matter. Ria came to Arcadia to be close to her.
"I'm glad I came."
Ria swore to herself that if any of the Nestian leopards tried anything funny with Tiel during this festival, she would destroy them beyond recognition.
Of course, if she had to face Rowen Nestian or Chender Nestian, she wouldn't last even ten minutes. But against the leopard knights beneath them, she was confident she wouldn't lose.
After all, Ria was a beastkin before she was Tiel's maid. She would never fall behind in fierceness!
If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net, it has been stolen.
While Ria and the guards protecting Tiel were burning with resolve after hearing that "the Nestians were attending," Tiel herself had no particular thoughts on the matter.
"So, Rowen is coming?"
Tiel didn't really think much about it.
That is, she wasn't overly worried about Rowen, but that didn't mean she had no thoughts about it at all.
Tiel knew that Jay had infiltrated the Nestian clan.
She also knew that Ferdie, Ludian, and Ian Dross had been planning a dangerous mission to capture him.
They were probably going to infiltrate the Nestians after the festival ended. Just as planned.
With the light orb that Tiel had created in hand.
"But with so many people targeting him, there's no way Jay would have come here."
To protect Tiel, knights from Asterian and Everard had been stationed throughout Arcadia while Tiel had gone out for the first time in a while.
Neither the Nestians nor Jay would be able to harm her in this situation.
"Then /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ why did Rowen come?"
While Ria braided her hair, Tiel pondered in front of the mirror.
Was it really to participate in the festival? But the Chender Nestian she knew wouldn't send Rowen to an official event for such trivial reasons.
As Tiel was lost in thought, Ria finished fixing her hair and carefully tied a ribbon behind Tiel's head.
"Alright, all done, young lady."
"Mmm, thank you, Ria. You really have a talent for this..."
"It's nothing, really! You look so beautiful today! How do you get more beautiful with each passing day?"
"Stop it..."
"It's true! I'm sure Ian would say the same thing."
"Huh? Ian?"
Tiel turned her head sharply. Oh my! Ria laughed in surprise. The ribbon that was tied in Tiel's hair swayed with the movement.
"Ian's here?"
"It's the festival tomorrow. He's probably having a conversation with the head of the Everard family right now. So, I specially put extra effort into your hair today."
Ria softly wrapped her arms around Tiel's shoulders and turned her body to face the mirror.
"It's an emerald silk ribbon, just like Ian's eye color."
"It's beautiful...! I like it. It really looks like Ian's eyes."
"Right? I chose it carefully just for you. Now, go meet Ian, young lady~"
Ria teased as she lightly squeezed Tiel's shoulder before letting go. Tiel smiled in return to Ria's playful actions.
But Tiel didn't need to wander around the Everard estate to meet Ian Dross.
As soon as Ian Dross had heard that Tiel was staying in the estate, he had immediately come to find her.
"Ian!"
"Tiel, have you been well?"
Ian gently wrapped his arms around Tiel's waist.
Since they had been engaged for a long time, there was no longer any hesitation in their physical closeness.
"It's finally the festival tomorrow. Are you tired or bothered by it? If you don't want to do it, it's fine, you don't have to."
Ian Dross spoke kindly but firmly. Tiel shook her head.
"If I didn't want to do it, I wouldn't have come all the way here."
Ian Dross looked down at her, as if thinking about something, and then sent all the maids in the room out.
He then leaned in close, lowering his head to whisper in her ear.
"Your ability?"
"It's still fine. Maybe because I've been careful, it doesn't feel like it's weakening like before."
As proof, the fish that were floating and swimming around her were still gleaming as brightly as before.
Ian Dross nodded.
"But if anything happens, you tell me right away, okay? Don't hide anything..."
"Yes, don't worry about me. But what about you, Ian? How's your ability lately?"
Tiel suddenly raised her head and met Ian's gaze.
But then...
"Huh?"
Ian's eye color... Was it always this murky? Tiel squinted, staring at his eyes.
Ian's eye color had once been a bright, beautiful emerald, just like the silk ribbon tied in Tiel's hair.
But now, it seemed as though there was black mixed in...
Noticing that Tiel was lost in thought, Ian Dross snapped his fingers with a sharp sound.
"I'm fine. It's nothing... I'm just a bit tired, but there's no other problem."
"You haven't been trapped in a space again, have you?"
"No, that hasn't happened. If that ever does, I'll be sure to let you know first, so don't worry too much."
"Then how can I not worry...! Ian, you're my fiancé. That means... you're my partner too."
Tiel muttered as she acted a little coy. Ian Dross scratched his cheek before placing a large hand on Tiel's head.
"It's not that I don't appreciate your concern. I just didn't want to trouble you. And my ability is fine... probably... Also, I've found out a bit about someone who's been going in and out of my abilities."
"You found something out?"
"I'll tell you when I'm sure."
"Please make sure to tell me!"
After getting Ian's promise, Tiel finally let him go.
Ian said he had someone to meet, and left her.𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢
Countless beastkin were gathering in Arcadia. Carriages with the crests of different families were passing in and out of the Everard estate without rest.
More beastkin than usual had come to Arcadia to pray for the peace of Crassion and to witness the legend of Light that had happened here over a decade ago.
Tiel, observing the gathered beastkin, carefully placed her hands together and used her ability, just like when she was a child.
The light gathered inside her hand.
The amount of light Tiel had just created was small, so she couldn't sprinkle it over all the beastkin's heads, but...
"It's daytime, so..."
Even without her, the sunlight was spreading over the heads of the other beastkin.
A light breeze brushed through, gently passing over Tiel's bangs.
In that moment, the light in Tiel's hand dimmed just slightly.
However, Tiel didn't notice it.
She simply thought that the sunlight in Arcadia was just a bit stronger today.